There's a core group of people who are the backbone of the writing process and make up the live band (the joke is to call 'em the City Council). We are an open collective though, so people can contribute as much or as little as they want. Some do a lot and have been a key part of our development. Some have only written one song or done some cover art. But they're all part of the extended family and have contributed music, visual art, or some kind of creative input over the years.

Some of these folks (let's call 'em citizens) have resumes that include literally the biggest names in music, theater, and art. As in, you'd be friggin' amazed. Some have almost no recognition beyond their hometown. The point is, it doesn't matter a damn bit - it's about the person and what they can and want to bring to the table, not the list of names on their CV.

"Depending on temperament and circumstance, Kicksville could alternately be described as an African Pop band, a Jam/Prog outfit, Adrian Belew at his most Zappaesque or Beefheartian, a collaboration between Peter Gabriel and Natasha Atlas, a full-throttle Metal assault, Tom Waits banging away on a carnival-in-a-tool-shed short story, or Ministry after a Clockwork Orange session with the new Phish album. And at some point, any or all of those descriptions fit Kicksville like a brand new black concert T-shirt....

What is clear...is that few of the aforementioned sonic reference points serve as actual influences and any sounds that can be attributed to Kicksville are among the most fascinatingly original that are being foisted upon an unsuspecting world. Edgard Varese said it, Frank Zappa lived it and Kicksville puts their own twist on it: 'The modern day composer refuses to die.'"